Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance

The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is a registered charity, which uses a helicopter to provide an air ambulance service to the English counties of Dorset and Somerset. The air ambulance came into service in March 2000, following the success of similar schemes, such as Devon Air Ambulance and Cornwall Air Ambulance. The air ambulance headquarters are at Wellington in Somerset, but the helicopter is based at Henstridge Airfield in Somerset.

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
FoundedJanuary 2000
TypeRegistered charity No. 10786857
FocusAir ambulance
Location
Coordinates50.9876°N 2.3547°W / 50.9876; -2.3547
Area served
Dorset, Somerset
Revenue
£2.87 million[1]
Employees
13 administration staff
Websitewww.dsairambulance.org.uk

Aircraft

The service operates an AgustaWestland AW169 helicopter, callsign Helimed 10, which has been in service since June 2017.[2] Travelling at speeds of up to 165 knots (190 mph; 306 km/h), it can land in an area half the size of a tennis court and can reach anywhere in the two counties within twenty minutes of an emergency call.[3] It is crewed by one pilot, a paramedic and a critical care doctor and can carry two patients on stretchers. The pilots are employed by Specialist Aviation Services, the company which leases the helicopter to the air ambulance service and provide a full-time engineer at the base. The paramedics are employed by South Western Ambulance Service (SWASFT), while critical care doctors are seconded from local NHS hospital trusts.

The charity's current helicopter – G-DSAA AW169
The charity's previous helicopter – EC135 over Sturminster Newton. It was in service from 2007 to 2017.

Operations

In May 2011, the charity flew its 8,000th mission,[4][5] and by 2015 had flown a total of 10,700.[6] In 2009, the helicopter flew 982 missions,[5] an increase on the 853 flown in 2008. Typical incidents for which the assistance of the air ambulance is requested by SWASFT, include road traffic collisions and horse riding accidents, due to the remote locations and the severity of injuries involved in such incidents.

Fundraising

In 2011, the previous helicopter cost in excess of £4,000 per day to run.[4] This money has to be raised largely from charitable donations. The charity is supported by volunteers spread across the two counties who work to raise funds to ensure that this service continues. It also runs a weekly lottery, which has over 50,000 members.

See also

References
  1. "Financial History". The Charity Commission. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  2. "New helicopter for air ambulance". BBC News. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance attends 8,000 calls". BBC News. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  5. "Usage Statistics". Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  6. "The Facts". Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
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